Product storage and dispensing system

Abstract

As storage and dispensing system for the storage of dispensable products under atmospherically modified conditions and for the dispensing of such products from the system. The system is for use with dispensable products, more particularly for use with roasted whole-bean coffee in any retailing application, to extend shelf life of the product. The invention comprises a storage and dispensing container, a valve for enabling a fluid communication between the container and an atmosphere modification source (vacuum pump, inert gas insertion device or other oxygen depletion mechanism), and a gateway for opening the container to the atmosphere and dispensing the product therefrom. A merchandising unit for storing and dispensing perishables includes a plurality of the above described vacuum storage and dispensing containers.

1. A storage and dispensing container comprising:
 an air-tight enclosure for storing a dispensable product therein, the enclosure defining a passageway located at a bottom end;  
 a chute associated with the enclosure for directing a free flow of the dispensable product coming out of the enclosure through the passageway;  
 a gateway located between the passageway and the chute, the gateway movable between a closed position and a dispensing position, the gateway enabling the free flow of the product from the enclosure through the passageway to the chute when in the dispensing position and sealing the passageway from ambient atmosphere when in the closed position;  
 a valve operably associated with the gateway, the valve enabling a fluid communication between the enclosure and an atmospheric modification source when the gateway is in the closed position; and  
 a control device operably associated with the gateway to move it between its closed position and its dispensing position.  
 
   
   
     2. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the gateway comprises a barrier wall defining an opening and a solid portion therein and movable between closed and dispensing positions, the barrier wall opening at least partially aligned with the passageway when in the dispensing position to enable the flow of product from the enclosure and the barrier wall solid portion aligned with the passageway when in the closed position to seal the passageway. 
   
   
     3. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 2  wherein the operable association between the valve, gateway and control device comprises a shaft assembly. 
   
   
     4. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 3  wherein the barrier wall has the structure of a spherical segment operably connected to the shaft assembly, the barrier wall solid portion and opening located within the spherical segment and moving into and out of alignment with the passageway through a rotation of the shaft assembly. 
   
   
     5. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 2  further including a gasket located around the passageway and contacting the barrier wall to seal the passageway when the barrier wall is in the closed position. 
   
   
     6. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 4  further including a gasket having a ring of elastomeric material about the passageway, the ring having at least one inner circumferential ridge and at least one outer circumferential ridge in concentric relation to one another and contacting the barrier wall, the at least one outer ridge extending further towards the barrier wall than the at least one inner ridge. 
   
   
     7. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  further including a sweeping assembly located within the passageway for contact with the gateway, the assembly directing the dispensable product away from an inner periphery of the passageway as the gateway moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     8. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 7  wherein the sweeping assembly includes at least one sweeping brush in contact with the gateway. 
   
   
     9. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 7  wherein the sweeping assembly includes at least one wiping blade in contact with the gateway. 
   
   
     10. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 7  wherein the sweeping assembly includes at least one sweeping brush and at least one wiping blade in contact with the gateway. 
   
   
     11. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 5  further including a sweeping assembly located within the passageway for contact with the barrier wall, the assembly directing the dispensable product away from the gasket as the barrier wall moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     12. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 2  wherein the passageway has a beveled peripheral edge and the barrier wall opening has a beveled peripheral edge, the edges interacting with one another to shear the dispensable product as the barrier wall moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     13. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  further comprising a dispersing mechanism located proximal to the passageway, the dispersing mechanism diverting the dispensable product towards an outer periphery of the enclosure prior to the product entering the passageway, the dispersing mechanism having a filter in fluid communication with the valve. 
   
   
     14. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 13  wherein the dispersing mechanism comprises an upwardly directed cone defining a hollow interior in fluid communication with the valve, the filter of the mechanism in fluid communication with the hollow interior. 
   
   
     15. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the chute comprises a hollow column located proximal to the gateway and a snout located proximal to the hollow column, the dispensable product flowing through the hollow column and snout after coming out of the enclosure through the passageway. 
   
   
     16. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the gateway is spring biased in the closed position. 
   
   
     17. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the valve interrupts the fluid communication between the atmospheric modification source and the enclosure at least during the time the gateway is in the dispensing position. 
   
   
     18. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the control device includes a manually operated handle. 
   
   
     19. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the atmospheric modification source includes a vacuum system. 
   
   
     20. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 1  wherein the atmospheric modification source includes an inert gas insertion system providing an inert gas. 
   
   
     21. A storage and dispensing container comprising:
 an air-tight enclosure for dispensable product defining a passageway located at a bottom end;  
 a chute;  
 a tilt member located between the passageway and the chute, the tilt member defining an opening movable between a closed position sealing the passageway and a dispensing position when the opening is at least partially aligned with the passageway to enable a free flow of a dispensable product through the passageway to the chute;  
 a valve enabling fluid communication between the enclosure and an atmospheric modification source; and  
 a control device operably associated with the tilt member and the valve such that when the tilt member is in the closed position, the enclosure is in fluid communication with the atmospheric modification source.  
 
   
   
     22. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the tilt member includes a barrier wall having the structure of a hollow spherical segment. 
   
   
     23. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 22  further including a gasket located around the passageway, the gasket contacting the barrier wall to seal the passageway when the tilt member is in the closed position. 
   
   
     24. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 23  wherein the gasket includes a ring of elastomeric material having at least one inner ridge and at least one outer ridge, the ridges in concentric relation to one another and in contact with the barrier wall, the at least one outer ridge extending further towards the barrier wall than the at least one inner ridge. 
   
   
     25. The storage and dispensing system of  claim 22  further including a sweeping assembly located within the passageway for contact with the barrier wall, the assembly directing the dispensable product away from an inner periphery of the passageway as the tilt member moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     26. The storage and dispensing system of  claim 23  further including a sweeping assembly located within the passageway for contact with the barrier wall, the assembly directing the dispensable product away from the gasket as the tilt member moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     27. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the passageway has a beveled peripheral edge that interacts with a beveled peripheral edge of the tilt member opening to shear the dispensable product as the tilt member moves towards the closed position. 
   
   
     28. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  further including a dispersing mechanism located proximal to the passageway, the dispersing mechanism diverting the dispensable product towards an outer periphery of the enclosure prior to the product entering the passageway, the dispersing mechanism having a filter in fluid communication with the valve. 
   
   
     29. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 28  wherein the dispersing mechanism includes an upwardly directed cone defining a hollow interior in fluid communication with the valve and a filter in fluid communication with the hollow interior. 
   
   
     30. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the chute includes a hollow column located proximal to the gateway and a snout located proximal to the hollow column, the dispensable product flowing through the hollow column and snout after flowing through the passageway. 
   
   
     31. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the operable association between the valve, tilt member and control device includes a shaft assembly. 
   
   
     32. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the tilt member is spring biased in the closed position. 
   
   
     33. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the valve interrupts the fluid communication between the atmospheric modification source and the enclosure at least during the time the tilt member is in the dispensing position. 
   
   
     34. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the control device includes a manually operated handle. 
   
   
     35. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the atmospheric modification source includes a vacuum system. 
   
   
     36. The storage and dispensing container of  claim 21  wherein the atmospheric modification source includes an inert gas insertion system providing an inert gas.